Occupational Therapy Commons^™

Rewiring Recovery: Integrating Assistive Technology Into Occupational Therapy For Neurological Rehabilitation, Megan M. Cotton

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Although assistive technology (AT) is widely recognized as an effective intervention to improve functional outcomes and independence in individuals with neurological conditions, it remains underutilized in clinical practice due to barriers such as limited training, time constraints, and lack of accessible resources (Langan et al., 2018; Pearce et al., 2024; Sarsak et al., 2023). This doctoral capstone project examined the integration of AT into occupational therapy practice within an inpatient rehabilitation setting. Guided by the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance and Engagement (CMOP-E) and the Rehabilitative Frame of Reference, the project aimed to bridge the gap between evidence-based AT interventions …

Occupational Therapy’S Role In Promoting Adaptive Gymnastics Among Autistic Girls, Ashley R. Aesoph

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

This project focused on the underdiagnosis of girls on the autism spectrum and the benefit of adaptive sports participation in improving motor, sensory, and social skills for this population. Occupational therapy’s role in diagnosing and treating girls displaying symptoms of autism was explored through the completion of 25 autism diagnostic evaluations and screenings. The differences in the presentation of autism in girls and women was investigated through interviews with two clinical psychologists, a survey of 17 clinicians, interviews with the parents of two girls diagnosed with autism, and an interview with 1 woman on the autism spectrum. Through this, barriers …

Thriving Beyond Cancer: Occupational Therapy In Oncology Care, Claire Vanderbeek

Capstones: Occupational Therapy

Background: Cancer treatments often result in side effects that impair mental, sensory, motor, and body system functions. The purpose of this capstone was to advocate for the use of occupational therapy (OT) for the cancer population by gaining advanced knowledge and experience at two sites: a local YMCA cancer survivorship program and an outpatient rehabilitation clinic.

Method: At the outpatient rehabilitation clinic, an intervention and patient log were created and used to influence the creation of education materials for patients and providers. During the cancer survivorship program, psychosocial factors, strength, flexibility, balance, aerobic function, and program sustainability were evaluated. A …

Reframing Intimacy: An Occupation-Based Approach To Pelvic Floor & Sexual Health, Emma Stone

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Pelvic floor dysfunction is highly prevalent among women in the United States, and sexual health is often underaddressed in healthcare. This capstone project aimed to define the role of occupational therapists (OTs) in pelvic floor therapy and promote integration of sexual health into practice. Completed in an outpatient pelvic floor setting, the project included clinical skill development, program development, and advocacy. Interventions involved continuing education, creation of educational handouts, implementation of home exercise programs, and tracking outcomes using the PFDI-20. Additional initiatives included staff education and student training on OT’s role in pelvic health. All 12 tracked clients progressed toward …

More Than Mealtimes: The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Pediatric Feeding For Children With Developmental Disabilities, Anika J. Peters

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Feeding is a foundational occupation essential for growth, development, and family participation. However, children with developmental disabilities often experience significant feeding challenges that impact nutrition and participation in mealtime routines. This capstone project examines the role of occupational therapy in pediatric feeding assessment and intervention within an outpatient setting. Using a descriptive mixed-methods approach, outcomes were evaluated for pediatric clients (N=18) and occupational therapists (N=15) through goal attainment tracking, the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), clinician needs assessment data, and resource feedback. Results demonstrated improvements in food acceptance, texture tolerance, oral-motor skills, and engagement in mealtime participation. COPM scores reflected …

Transitioning Home: The Role Of Occupational Therapy In Aging In Place, Syrena Meyer

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

This capstone project explored the role of occupational therapy in supporting older adults transitioning home from hospitalization to successfully age in place. With the growing population of adults over age 65 and a strong preference to remain in their homes, there is an increasing need for interventions that promote safety, independence, and quality of life. This project focused on developing advanced clinical skills in inpatient and transitional care settings while implementing evidence-based interventions and educational resources. The Person-Environment-Occupation Model was used throughout the 14-week experience to identify strategies to enhance occupational performance in patients. Key activities included patient care, use …

Empowering Families: Enhancing Early Intervention Through Caregiver Coaching, Kylie Wersal

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The early years of life are critical for infant brain growth and development (Twardzik et al., 2017; Help Me Grow, n.d.). • Early intervention (EI) supports infants and toddlers with developmental delays through holistic. family-centered care (Frolek Clark & Kingsley, 2020). • Coaching caregivers within natural environments empowers them to integrate strategies into everyday routines, improving child outcomes (Seruya et al., 2022). • The Primary Service Provider model supports transdisciplinary collaboration and provides the family with consistency (Childress, 2015). • Purpose: The primary aim of this project was to develop advanced clinical practice skills using caregiver coaching within the Early …

Vision Remediation And Functional Participation For Individuals With Acquired Brain Injuries, Alina Randall

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed in partnership with Neuro Therapy Nashville (NTN), a privately owned, outpatient neurologic rehabilitation clinic in Brentwood, TN. NTN offers occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, and counseling services to individuals with acquired brain injuries, with an emphasis on stroke, concussion, and vision remediation. The goal of the project was to increase access and availability of evidence informed resources for vision remediation and occupational therapy for individuals with acquired brain injuries. The outcomes of the project include a pilot research study which will be used to inform future analysis of vision remediation in occupational therapy, …

Measuring Effectiveness Of A Mobility Aide On A Medical-Surgical Unit, Jamie L. Granatowicz, Laura N. Rogers, Leeza A. Struwe

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects: College of Nursing

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of a mobility aide on a medical-surgical inpatient unit to improve patients’ surgical outcomes, decrease hospital length of stay, and decrease the number of falls.

Design: A retrospective review was conducted to determine the effects of a mobility aide implemented on a medical-surgical unit. The intent was to ensure the utilization of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol for early mobilization before and after implementation. Two-month periods were analyzed before and after implementation.

Findings: The results demonstrated clinical significance for patients when implementing a mobility aide. The mean length of stay was 1.044 days …

Development And Implementation Of A Tai Chi Group In A Community-Based Brain Injury Program, Haley D. White

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

My capstone was completed at NeuroRestorative, a Neuro community-based setting that provides Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and speech-language pathology. The purpose of the ALE and Capstone Project is to develop and implement a weekly tai chi group within a community-based brain injury setting that incorporates tiered modifications to address varying cognitive and physical abilities. The program is designed to promote improved overall functional participation while reducing periods of downtime and inactivity among participants. To support long-term sustainability and carryover, educational handouts and training materials will be provided to staff to facilitate ongoing implementation of the group intervention.

The goals of …

I Am God's Masterpiece: Ministry For Adults With Idd, Raegan M. Wilson

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

This capstone project was completed in collaboration with Parkway Ministries in Corbin, Kentucky. My Applied Leadership Experience (ALE) took place in a community-based faith setting and focused on the ACOTE areas of Program Development, Education, and Advocacy. As part of a collaborative project to develop an inclusive Vacation Bible School (VBS) for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), my individual focus was supporting caregivers through education, resource development, and community engagement. A needs assessment and literature review identified caregiver burden, social isolation, limited educational resources, and reduced access to support services as common challenges for caregivers of adults with …

Program Development And Implementation Of A Sensory-Based Self Regulation Curriculum For Adults With Down Syndrome At Gigi’S Playhouse, Grace Blair

OTD Capstone Projects

This doctoral capstone project was completed through partnership with Gigi’s Playhouse Nashville, a non-profit organization offering free programming and services to individuals of all ages with Down syndrome and their families. The goal of this project was to develop and implement an educational curriculum for adult education programs focused on daily life skills, money management, physical health, self confidence, and a variety of other topics. A secondary focus of this project was to support sensory regulation in individuals with Down syndrome to promote overall health and participation. The results were physical and digital materials to be used for future adult …

I Am God's Masterpiece: Ministry For Adults With Idd, Kerrigan J. Creech

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

Executive Summary 

My capstone Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) focus area included program development, with additional focus on education, advocacy, and leadership. For my Applied Leadership Experience (ALE), I worked with three other occupational therapy graduate students to develop and implement an inclusive Vacation Bible School (VBS) for adults with disabilities at Parkway Ministries. The purpose and overall goal of the project was to increase opportunities for adults with disabilities to participate in an inclusive Vacation Bible School through individualized supports and activity adaptations.

A needs assessment and SWOT analysis were completed and revealed that adults with disabilities …

Increasing Safe Driving Among Adults With Neurological Impairments In A Rural Setting, Melissa V. Burt

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

This capstone project examined challenges related to safe driving for adults living in rural communities with neurological impairments. Guided by the Person-Environment-Occupation Model and Toglia's Dynamic Interactional Approach, the project focused on increasing awareness, accessibility, and utilization of occupational therapy (OT) led assessments, community-based services, and educational outreach on driving safety. Clinical skill development was demonstrated through standardized and informal assessments and evidence-based interventions with adults with neurological conditions. Program implementation included driving risk assessments, one-on-one CarFit sessions, the creation of educational pamphlets, and educational presentations to increase community and provider awareness of OT's role in driving rehabilitation. CarFit surveys …

Occupational Therapy Program Development In Unhoused Communities, Abbigayle Jackson, Emma Pacheco, Mariko Turley, Jennifer Wickham, Tina M. Deangelis, Edd, Ms, Otr/L, Faota

Doctorate of Occupational Therapy Program Capstone Presentations

Objectives

- Outline the Modified Delphi process and its purpose for manual development

- Describe foundational elements of occupational therapy (OT) program development for unhoused populations

- Illustrate a program's community and societal impact

Reimagining Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Mentorship Through A Cultural Wealth Lens: A World Café Study, Nandita A. Singh, Mph, Otr/L

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Culminating Presentations

Introduction: Occupational therapy (OT) fieldwork education plays a critical role in professional socialization; however, supervision models often privilege dominant sociocultural norms, disadvantaging students from non-dominant cultural and linguistic backgrounds and potentially limiting equitable workforce preparation.

Objectives: To examine how OT fieldwork partners conceptualize reciprocal mentorship within fieldwork education identify strategies grounded in Community Cultural Wealth (CCW) to support inclusive communication and strengths-based professional development.

Methods: Participatory qualitative study using a virtual World Café methodology, involving United States-based academic and clinical OT fieldwork contexts. Data were collected through audio-recorded discussions, digital whiteboards, and reflexive memos, and were analyzed using Braun …

Creating Supportive Environments For Children To Bloom: A Trauma-Informed Occupational Therapy Approach, Morgan Benson

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

A significant number of children receiving occupational therapy services have histories of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including neglect, abuse, frequent changes in caregiving environments, and exposure to chronic stressors. These experiences can strongly affect sensory processing, emotional regulation, behavior, and participation in meaningful daily occupations. These challenges are often made more complex by limited caregiver education, inconsistent access to trauma-informed resources, and differences in therapist confidence when addressing trauma in pediatric practice. Occupational therapy practitioners are well-positioned to support these needs through holistic, occupation-based, and client-centered care that considers sensory, emotional, environmental, and developmental factors. The purpose of this capstone …

Enhancing Child Development In A Daycare Setting Using An Ot Perspective, Autumn F. Glaser

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The purpose of this capstone project was to implement a program within a daycare setting using an occupational therapy perspective. The project explored the impact of staff education combined with guided, hands-on activities in supporting child development. Seven developmental areas served as a focus for two weeks each during the capstone experience. Main components of the program included presentations and debrief sessions for staff, hands-on, developmentally supportive activities with the children, handouts for caregivers, and the creation of a resource with activity ideas for daycare staff to utilize after program implementation. Pre and post-test surveys were used to assess the …

Blooming Beginnings: An Occupational Therapy Approach To Helping Families Grow, Grace L. Mcconnell

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The transition to parenthood is accompanied by monumental changes in health, wellness, roles, and routines. These changes impact an individual's ability to participate in their daily activities and particularly for mothers, this experience impacts her entire life. Through this transition, parents must not only participate in their own occupations but also learn how to advocate and care for their child(ren). However, families are provided very limited educational resources to prepare them for this transition. Occupational therapy can bridge the gap in family preparedness by utilizing evidence-based education to address physical, psychological, and social wellbeing. Occupational therapy education can advise parents …

Empowering Children Through Self-Regulation: A Multi-Setting Occupational Therapy Initiative, Aarika Denae De Jong

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

Self-regulation skills are essential for well-being during childhood and are associated with academic performance and positive psychosocial outcomes. Children with developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience sensory differences that impact occupational performance and self-regulation. Rural populations face additional barriers to accessing early childhood opportunities and occupational therapy services. This doctoral capstone project aimed to support the development of self-regulation skills among children in both clinical and community settings. Through partnership with a rural public library, a Sensory Storytime Program was implemented using inclusive design principles to promote regulation skills. Additional resources, including a Sensory Regulation Kit …